The Power of Good Friday: The Cross, The Resurrection, and The Call to Live as a Living Sacrifice

Today, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus. We reflect on the pain He endured, the blood He shed, and the agony He faced on the cross. It's a day that can feel heavy, as we take time to understand the depth of His love for us — a love so powerful that He chose to give His life for our freedom. But this day isn’t just about mourning; it’s about remembering the personal cost of that sacrifice.

Every drop of blood, every lash of the whip, every moment of agony — it was for you (put your name here). It was for me. Jesus endured it all because He loved us so deeply, so personally. His death was not just a historical event; it was for you (yes girl again) and me, so that we could experience freedom, grace, and forgiveness. His sacrifice is the bridge to something far more intimate than we often realize — a personal, one-on-one relationship with Him, our Savior, who is not far away but near.

Jesus didn’t die to create a distant, cold connection; He died to make it possible for you (say it outloud) to draw near to Him, to walk with Him daily, and to experience His love in the most intimate way. Through His death, He tore the veil that separated us from God

— Hebrews 10:19-22 says: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...” This is not a relationship of distance, but one of closeness, intimacy, and communion.

The sacrifice of Jesus means that He, the Creator of the universe, wants you (keep putting your name) to know Him personally. He wants you (is a personal matter, "say your name") to feel His presence, to speak to Him in prayer, and to hear His voice in your heart. Through the cross, we gain the ability to walk daily with the Savior — not a faraway God, but a God who desires to be intimately involved in the smallest details of our lives. Scripture reminds us in

John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”And through this incredible act of love, Jesus invites us into a deep, personal relationship with Him. His death was for you (ones more) so that you (yep you guest iy "YOUR NAME") can draw near to Him. That’s the beauty of the cross — it isn’t just about salvation from sin; it’s about the restoration of a personal relationship with the living God.

But here’s the beauty: This moment of sacrifice is not the end. Sunday is coming. Resurrection is coming. Jesus didn’t stay dead. He didn’t stay in the grave. He rose, victorious over death and sin, and with that resurrection, He has given us new life.

Romans 6:9 says: “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” Through His resurrection, we don’t just have the promise of eternal life; we have the assurance of an ongoing, intimate relationship with Him. We now have access to His resurrection power in our everyday lives.

This relationship is not just for the future — it is for today.

Romans 8:11 declares: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in you (put your name here), empowering you to live a life full of victory, peace, and intimate connection with Jesus.Because of His sacrifice and resurrection, we are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:6-7 says: “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” Jesus didn’t just die for us to be forgiven; He died so that we could walk in newness of life, free from the chains of sin. We no longer have to live according to the old nature that once controlled us — we are free to live for Him, to reflect His love, and to be living sacrifices for His glory.

Romans 12:1 tells us: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” The cross made a way for us to no longer be enslaved by sin but to become living sacrifices for Christ. Every action, every choice, every thought we have is an opportunity to glorify God and live for Him. As we fight the good fight of faith, we are called to live for Him in everything we do — to be a reflection of His love, His grace, and His power in this world.

Yes, we remember the pain, the blood, the sacrifice, but we also stand in the assurance that Sunday is coming. And in that coming, we are not just given hope for the future; we are given a new identity, a new purpose, and a new relationship with the living God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This is the life we now live in Him — a life of closeness, communion, and resurrection power.

So, as we reflect today, let’s not just mourn; let’s rejoice. Rejoice in the personal sacrifice that was made for you (dont forget..YOUR NAME) and me.

Rejoice in the resurrection that defines us. And let’s walk in that resurrection power every single day, knowing that Jesus desires to walk with you (yall know by now) intimately, as a friend, as a Savior, and as the One who gave everything for you (one last time).

Live today as a living sacrifice for His glory, knowing that we fight the good fight because He has already won the victory.

Love,

Lilly ❤️